Envelop-stamping machine.



No. 767,269; PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. E. E. FLEMING. BNVELOP STAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED BEPT.4, l903.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-8EEBT 1.

No. 767,269. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. E. E. FLEMING.

' ENVELOP STAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4, 1903. NO MODEL. 3 SHEETfl-SHEET 2.

g 6 @IMW No. 767,269. PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904. E. E. FLEMING.

EN'VELOP STAMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 4, 1903. v 1T0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented August 9, 1904.

UNTTED STATEs PATENT @EETCE.

EDlVARD E. FLEMING, OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.

ENVELOP-STAIVIPING MACHINE.

EPECIIICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,269, dated August 9, 1904.

Application filed September 4, 1903. Serial No. 171,987. (No model.)

To In whrmt it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing in the county of Vashington and State of Maryland, (whose post-office addressis Mason and Dixon, Pennsylvania,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Stamping.

Machines; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to machines or devices for afiixing stamps or labels to envelops and similar packages, more particularly to machines for applying postage-stamps.

The majority of envelop-stamping machines which have heretofore been devised' have been more or less complicated, expensive, and inconvenient in use, and they have especially proven impracticable and undesirable because they have lacked provision for utilization of the stamps in sheets, but have necessitated the arrangement of the stamps in the machine either in strips or rolls or in piles or columns. As well known, postage-stamps are issued by the Government in perforated sheets, and a practicable machine must receive and make use of them in such form. To tear the sheets into strips or to separate the stamps and then arrange them properly in the machine is a bother outweighing the advantages and convenience of the device and one which few persons would care to undertake. Moreover, the strips separated from an ordinary sheet of postage-stamps are too short to be of practicable service in a stampaflixing machine, and it is impossible to provide a long roll, since the stamps are not issued in that form, while in these machines where the stamps are arranged in piles or columns the stamps are sure to stick together at times, causing-a waste of postage.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, convenient, and efficient machine or device which will receive and utilize the stamps in sheets as issued by the Government and by means of which the stamps may be successively detached from the sheet and readily affixed in proper position on the envelops, which are presented one after another to the machine.

Other objects are to provide for holding and preserving a number of sheets of stamps so that they may be kept on hand and utilized as they are needed, to provide for adjustments of the machine for stamping letters or packages of different thicknesses, also for applying either one, two, or more stamps to the same envelop, and to simplify the various details of construction and to produce in every respect an improved device.

l Vith the above-stated objects in view the invention will first be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, wherein corresponding parts in the different figures are indicated by the same reference symbols, Figurelis a perspective view of an envelopstamping machine embodying my invention looking toward the left-hand side, showing a part of the stamp-box broken away and showing the moistening and stamp detaching and applying devices with their appurtenances located at the extreme left. Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking at the opposite or right-hand side of the machine, showing a portion of the cover of the stamp-sheet box or holder broken away to disclose the top sheet of stamps therein and showing the envelop support and moistening and stamp detaching and applying devices moved. over toward the right in position to affix on an en, velop the'first available stamp-of the sheet. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the machine as shown in the preceding view, taken on a line running medially through the envelop-support, water-tank, cutter, and plunger or stamp-affixing devices. Fig. 4c is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the cutter and plunger, taken at right angles to the other section, the dotted lines indicating the first depressed position of the cutter and plunger to sever the stamp. Fig. 5 is a similar section showing the second or extreme depressed position of the plunger. Fig. 6 is a detail top plan view of the combined watertank and envelop-support with appurtenances.

Fig. 7 is a detail top plan view of the front right-hand corner of the machine with parts broken away. F 8 isa detail section through the lower open end of the stamp-box.

My in'iproved machine comprises in the main a suitable box or support for holding the sheets of stamps, means for feeding the top sheet into position for utilization of one row of stamps after another, an envelop-support, a moistening device, a cutter and plunger or presser for detaching a stamp from the sheet and atlixing it on the envelop, together with means for bringing the stamps of each row successively into position to be applied to envelops by the presser. In the machine illustrated herein the stamp box or holder is stationary, the top sheet of stamps is fed by coacting rollers so as to project a row of stamps into a slide at the front, and the envelopsupport, moistening, and stamping devices are movable with said slide, so as to be brought successively into position to detach and apply one stamp after another. 1 am not limited to this or any particular construction, however, for obviously in some instances the envelop-support, moistening, and stamping devices might be stationary and the stamp box or holder might be movable to bring the row of stamps successively within range of the aflixer.

Referring to the drawings by specific characters of reference, the letter A designates the base of the machine, B B suitable standards rising therefrom, and O C arms or supports extending from said standards. These parts constitute a portion of the surmortingframe of the machine, which, however, may be of any appropriate design and construction.

The stamp box or holder, (indicated by the letter D and having a removable cover E) is shown mounted in a suitable frame F at the back of the machine.

preferably supported at an angle or downward forward inclination, as illustrated, for

l the purposes of compactness and simplicity of design, convenience in use, and especially to enable the sheets of stamps to slide down into place for engagement by the rollers, which feed them into position for utilization; but of course the stamp-box may be supported horizontally, vertically, or in any desired position. The sup )ortii'ig-frame F, as represented, consists of two side members, between which the box is fitted, having lower inward flanges, on which the box rests, said members having their frontlower ends joined to a bar or member (i, secured between the arms C C, and having their rear upper ends joined to a cross-piecef, on which the back end of the box rests. vided for holding the stamp-box firmly in placesuch, for instance, as a spring-clipf back of the box. Thus the stamp-box can Suitable means may also be pro- 1 purpose, and hence by turning the rollers the This stamp box is 1 lower front edge resting against a bar or mem= ber H, secured between the arms (1 C, while it can be removed at any time for lilling it with stamps or for other purposes. The box may be supported in other ways, or, if preferred, it may be rigidly mounted in place. The said stamp box or holder D may be of any construction appropriate for holding the stamps in proper position, and it may be either open or closed; but, preferably, it consists of a shallow rectangular receptacle provided with the removable cover E, both the box and its cover being also lined with paraffin-paper or other material for keeping out moisture from the stamps. The front lower end of the box is left open to permit the passage therethrough of the sheets of stamps, and a strip (Z, Figs. 3 and 7, may be provided across the bottom edge of the box to prevent the several sheets of stamps from sliding down or out, only the uppermost sheet being permitted to pass over said strip and out of the box as it is needed. This strip is preferably hinged or pivoted at its lower edge, so that it may be turned up for inserting a number of sheets of stamps in place and then turned down over the lower edges of said sheets, with its own upper edge lying close upon the stamps. Whenever it is desired to use a sheet of stamps, the uppermost sheet of the pile is simply drawn from under said strip and placed over it and is then allowed to pass out through the lower open end of the box, as represented in Fig. 3. The cover E may be hinged or otherwise attached to the box, if desired. in this instance it is wholly removable. It fits closely within the box, has upper clips or catches a, which engage the upper end of the box to hold it in place, also side flanges or strips '0, which rest on the sides of the box, the latter having lugs or projections d, which extend over said side strips to hold said cover in place, and it has also a knob or handle at its upper end for lifting it out of the box. This is a desirable construction, but I am not limited thereto.

The means illustrated for feeding the uppermost sheet of stamps into position for utili- Zation consist of coacting rollers, between which the sheet is engaged. Two rollers are herein represented located beneath the bar or member H and designated by the letter J, one of such rollers being provided with a knob or handle 7' at one end for the purpose of turning them. hen a sheet of stamps has its lower edge drawn from under the strip (Z and is allowed simply to rest on the other sheets and over said strip, it naturally slides down, so that its lower edge projects in between the rollers, which are properly located for that sheet may be fed in between them to bring the lower row of stamps mto position for use. As soon as the stamps of the lower row are easily be litted into place inits frame, with its i detached and used then the rollers may be turned to feed the next row into place, and so on. If desired, the stamp-feeding device may be dispensed with and the sheet of stamps may be pushed into place by the operators fingers; but the construction described is preferred.

In front of the feed-rollers is shown a slide K, onto which the lowermost row of stamps of the sheet is fed by said rollers. Said slide may consist of a flat bar, strip, or longitudinal member having a front rib or projection thereon, as L, which acts as a stop for the front edge of the stamps when the rollers have fed a row into place. The slide has at its left end a square hole or opening 71/, Fig. 3, of substantially the size of a stamp, which as the slide is moved step by step toward the right is successively brought under one stamp after another, and each stamp as it is detached from its sheet is forced through said opening by the presser or stamper and applied to an envelop supported beneath the slide, as hereinafter explained. To hold the stamps stationary and down flatwise upon the slide, the latter may be provided with a removable top plate or cover L, preferably perforated to permit observation of the row of stamps beneath it. This cover is shown fastened to the slide by a spring-clip Z at its right-hand end, which thus permits ready detachment thereof. As the slide is moved to the right to bring the stamping device successively over the several stamps of the row the said row of stamps is of course prevented from moving with the slide by the main sheet in the stamp-box; but to insure further against movement of the stamps a finger or projection, such as Z, Fig. 7, may extend from the bar H or other fixed support, so as to forma stop for the righthand edge of the stamp at the right of the sheet. This is especially desirable when all but the last row of stamps has been used up and the machine is operating on said last row, since in that case there is no sheet in the stamp-box to prevent movement.

The stamp detaching and applying device may be of any suitable type and construction, but preferably consists of a combined springopposed cutter for separating the stamp from its sheet and stamper or presser for stamping or afiixing it on the envelop. (See especially Figs. 3, t, and 5.) In the machinehere illustrated a square box or guidecasing M, corresponding interiorly in shape and size with the opening /1;,is mounted above said opening, and arranged to slide vertically therein is a block, plunger, or presser N, secured to the foot of a vertical rod 0, having a knob or handle P at its upper end for operating the device. Above the plunger or presser I is a separate plate Q, having rigid therewith a tube q, inclosing the rod 0, said tube having a projection or shoulder g at its upper end. The plate Q, is provided with depending knives or cutters R, in this instance flat blades having serrated cutting edges. I Two of said knives or blades are employed at right angles to each other, or one at the back and one at the right of the presser N, so that when said knives are lowered through the opening 7: they will shear off the lower left-hand or corner stamp of the sheet at its two attached edges. The blades may conveniently be fastened to the plate Q by providing their upper edges with flanges r, inserted between said plate and an adjacent spring-plate r, or they may be otherwise secured thereto. The blade-carrying plate Q, is normally spring-held upwardly or against the bottom of the top plate S of the box M, as by means of a coiled springs, surrounding the tube (1 and interposed between the shoulder or projection q and said top plate. A casing s is shown mounted on said top plate and inclosing said spring .9 to protect the latter. Above the tube q is a tube t, inclosing rod 0 and having a lower inner shoulder or projection t, and a coiled spring 2. of greater strength or resistance than the spring 8 is arranged on said rod O between said shoulder or projection t and a suitable stop on said rod, as, for instance, the knobP. The action of this spring normally holds up the block or plunger. Said knob P is shown having a depending casing 19 inclosing the upper end of the tube T to form a neat connection. When the slide K is moved so as to bring the first or next available stamp of the row thereon beneath the plunger, the operator presses down on the knob P, and as the resistance of the spring t is greater than that of the spring 8 the weaker spring 8 is first compressed, causing the plunger and the knives to descend a certain distance together, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, during which movement the knives shear or cut off the stamp.

As soon as the spring 8 is compressed to its limit the knives will cease to descend, and then as the operator continues to press down upon the knob P the plunger or presser N is forced against resistance of its spring 6 beyond the lower edges of said knives, as represented in Fig. 5, and caused to press or affix the stamp upon an envelop supported a suitable distance beneath the opening is, as hereinafter explained. The details of construction of this cutter and plunger may be varied in clifferent respects, the construction described being preferred for convenience in making and assembling the parts. In some instances it may be desirable to dispense with the knives or cutters and to depend on the shearis preferable, however, to employ a separate spring-opposed cutting device and an independently-movable spring-opposed plunger,

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erably the latter.

such as that described or of other suitable construction.

The slide K may be supported by any suitable means. In the present instance it is shown passing at the right through a guideopening in the right-hand arm or support 0, resting on the lower edge of said opening, which is preferably flanged for that purpose, and at the left it is shown supported by suitable rests or guides on the bars or members H and I, which constitute guideways for the slide. One of said rests consists of a flange depending. from the top plate S of the plunger-box, and the other consists of the flanged edge of a plate 73 at the left of the slide. These features, however, are mere details of construction of the machine which is here illustrated.

It will be observed in Fig. 1 that the cutter and plunger stands to the left of the left-hand side of the stamp-box. This is to permit the sheet of stamps to be fed or moved so as to bring its whole lowermost row onto the slide. After said row is fed into place the slide is then moved a step to the right, so as to bring the cutter and plunger over the first or lefthand stamp of that row, as illustrated in Fig. 2. After that stamp is detached and applied to an envelop the slide is moved so as to bring the cutter and plunger over the next stamp, and so on. Suitable means are preferably provided for insuring stoppage of the slide in every instance at the proper point to bring the opening Z and the cutter and plunger exactly over the stamp which is to be detached and affixed. To this end a latch U may be pivoted to the box M or other part of the slide and adapted to engage notches or recesses '2', formed in the bar I at intervals corresponding to the widths of the stamps, and said latch may be provided with a lever, such as a, which in this case is shown inclosed in the hollow bar it and having a thumb-piece u projecting from the end of said bar, adapted to be easily depressed to lift the latch to disengage it'from a notch. The slide may also be provided with a finger-piece, such as 7r", situated preferably under the thumb-piece a, so that both the slide and the latch may be easily manipulated by the hand of the operator.

In connection with the stamp-affixing device or cutter and plunger there is provided an appropriate support for the envelop beneath the opening it, and also suitable means for applying moisture either to the undergummed surface of the stamp or the corner of the envelop to which it is to be afiixed, pref- The letter V in the drawings denotes a combined water-tank or reservoir and envelop-support consisting of a rectangular or other suitable box or vessel con taining the water for moistening purposes and having a closed top or upper surface on which the envelop may rest to receive the stamp.

A ledge or shoulder '0 is shown at the left thereof, forming a stop or abutment for the upper edge of the envelop, While a suitable back-stop, such as the bar \V, limits the position of the adjacent or right-hand edge of the envelop, these stops being located so as to insure holding of the upper right-hand corner of the envelop directly beneath the opening 7: in proper position to receive a stamp in its usual place. Atransverse slot or opening is formed in the top of the tank at or near the front, and arranged therein is a moistening device X, adapted to be lifted up out of the water and passed over the upper right-hand corner of the envelop as the latter is placed in position on its support, thus applying moisture to the surface of the envelop. This moistening device may be of any type suitable for transferring water from the tank to the envelop and may be supported and operated in any sufficient way, though, as shown, it preferably consists of a roller of felt, cotton, or other absorbent material, and it is preferably mounted on an axis or spindle extending from a lever, such as m, at the side of the tank, said lever being fulcrumed at a point considerably behind the roller, so that the weight of the latter will normally keep it down in the water, and said lever also having a forwardly-projecting upturned part in front of the roller, as 11/, under which the envelop is inserted as it is pushed back on its support, thus lifting the roller, which passes over its upper surface. In this case the lever m is shown as a wire or rod having its for ward end a doubled and upturned and having a rear right-angle extension fulcrumed or pivoted in lugs depending at opposite sides of a plate Y, extending from the rear end of the envelop-support. A rear extension or lingerpiece of said transverse part of the lever affords convenient means for lifting the roller when the envelop is not of sufficient stiffness to raise the front end 11/ of the lever, as where a very light tissue-paper envelop is to be stamped.

The symbol w indicates a vertical strip or guard at the right of the water-tank and envelop-support, having its upper edge flush with the upper surface of the envelop-support, thus affording wider support for the envelop to sustain the part to which-the stamp is not to be applied. The front end of the envelopsupport, as well as the strip a, is shown downwardly beveled to render the insertion of the envelop between the support and the front end no of the roller-carrying lever easy and convenient.

As before stated, the short bar or backstop IV limits the position of the right-hand edge of the envelop, so as to bring its upper right-hand corner directly beneath the opening 7/ in proper position to receive a stamp; but sometimes it is desirable to affix two or more stamps to the same envelop, and hence means are preferably provided for moving back the stop a suitable distance to permit the envelop also to be moved back sufficiently for this purpose. (See Fig. 6.) As here represented, the stop is secured to the front end of a rod w, which passes through open-. ings in two upstanding ears or lugs g on the plate Y, said rod having notches m at suitable intervals, here formed on its lower edge, adapted to engage an edge or flange at one of the lugs, here the rear one. After one stamp'has been affixed at the corner of an envelop the rod 7 may be pulled back to the next notch, thus moving back the stop TV to permit the envelop to be shoved back a sufficient distance to receive another stamp. By lengthening the plate Y and rod w sulficiently provision may be made for moving back the stop a greater number of steps to permit affixing several stamps. Other means may be substituted for this purpose.

In order to accommodate letters or packages of different thicknesses between the en velop-support and the under side of the slide K, it is desirable to provide for adjusting or elevating and lowering the said envelop-support with its appurtenances. A convenient device for this purpose is shown in the pres ent machine more" clearly in Fig. 1, where Z represents a fixed threaded rod or screw and 2 designates an interiorly threaded sleeve screwed thereon and arranged between two lugs 2 projecting from the left side of the envelop-support, so that by turning the sleeve one way or the other the envelop-support can be adjusted as desired. The lugs .2" are shown projecting from a flat piece .2 secured to the envelop-support and slidably fitted between vertical guides .2, depending from the slide K, and the screw passes through openings therefor in lugs .2 and has its ends conveniently secured in slots in flanges .2", which connect the guides .2 at the top and bottom. This is a simple, compact, and rigid construction, but may be modified in various ways, or other adjusting devices may be adopted.

The operation of the machine will be apparent from the foregoing description in connection with the drawings. hen it is desired to put the machine to use, the lid or cover E of the stamp-box D is raised and the operator withdraws the lower edge of the uppermost sheet of stamps from under the strip (Z and lets said edge rest over said strip, so that it comes into engagement with the feed-rollers J, by means of which the operator feeds the first row of stamps onto the slide K under the cover or top plate L thereof. By means of the perforations in said cover, especially those at the front edge thereof, the operator can easily observe the stamps and tell when they abut against the front bar or shoulder Zr, when he ceases to turn the feed-rollers. The latch U is then disengaged from its first notch i in the bar I, and the slide ismoved one step to the right or until the latch engages the next notch 71, thus bringing the opening is directly beneath the first available stamp of the row, the cutter and plunger, aswell as the envelop support, moistener, and appurtenances, also moving with the slide, all in the positions shown in Fig. 2. The operator pushes the envelop which is to be stamped between the front edge of the envelop-support V and the front end 0/ of the lever (1:, thus lifting the moistening-roller X, and as the envelop is pushed back in place on its support the roller passes over its upper right-hand corner, thus moistening the same. WV hen the envelop is placed so that its upper and right-hand edges abut, respectively, the left stop 1) and back stop l/V, the operator presses down on the knob P, thereby operating the cutter and plunger to detach and press on the stamp in the manner already fully explained. The envelop is then Withdrawn, the slide moved another step to the right, and another envelop is placed on the support and stamped in the same manner, and so on until all the stamps of the row are used. Then the slide K is moved back to the left and the feed-rollers J are turned to bring the next row of stamps onto the slide, and this roll is utilized in the same manner, and so on until the sheet is gone, when another sheet may be inserted into the rollers and utilized in the same way.

While in the machine illustrated the slide K and other parts movable therewith travel to the right in applying the stamps successively, it is obvious that this arrangement may be reversed or otherwise modified, and, as before stated, the machine is capable of various changes in details of arrangement and construction without limiting the scope of my invention. The machine here shown is an exceedingly simple and convenient hand-operated device suitable for use from time to time, as it may be required; but the invention is also applicable to automatic power-machines for stamping great quantities of envelops in rapid succession. The machine is also suitable for applying other kinds of labels to envelops or other articles and will be so understood in the language of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an envelop-stamping machine, a holder for a sheet of stamps, means for feeding the sheet progressively, a stamp-supporting member for the front row of stamps having an opening conforming in size. and shape to a stamp, an envelop-support beneath said opening, a stamp-affixing device above said opening, a perforated top plate on said member for holding the row of stamps down thereon, and means for successively moving said member relatively to the holder transversely for bringing the stamps of said row successively over said opening and beneath said afiixing dev1ce.

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2. In an. envelop-stamping machine, means For holding a sheet of stamps, a slide onto which one row of said sheet may be fed, said slide having an opening conforming in shape and size to a stamp, means for feeding the row onto said slide, an envelop-support depending from said slide beneath said opening, means for adjusting vertically the position of said envelop-simport, a cooperating stamp detaching and ai'lixing device above said opening, and means for successively moving said slide to bring the stamps of the row successively over said opening, to be applied to envelops.

In an envelop-stamping machine, an inclined holder or stamp-box having a lower slot or opening for a sheet of stamps to pass out, coacting rollers for feeding the sheet out of said holder, a slide beside said rollers onto which one row after another may be fed, a perforated top plate on said slide to hold the stamps down thereon, said slide having an opening corresponding to a stamp, an envelopsupport beneath said opening and acoOperating cutter and plunger or stamp detacher and aflixer above the same, both having a fixed relation to said slide, and a moistening device adapted to wipe over the corner or upper surface of the envelop as it is applied to its support.

4. In a stamp or label aflixing machine, a stampsheet holder consisting of a flat openended box having a pivoted strip at its open edge adapted to be turned down against the bottom so as to hold the edges of a number of sheets of stamps thereunder, permitting one sheet to pass over it, and a removable cover fitted on said box.

5. In a stamp or label affixing machine, the combination with a support for the envelop or article to be stamped, and means for holding a sheet or row of stamps, of a combined cutter and plunger having a common push-rod and independent retracting springs connecting with said rod, capable of a limited movement together during which the stamp is severed from its sheet, after which the cutter is held against 't'urther depression by contraction of its spring while the plunger is capable of an indepemlent movement to press the stamp on the envelop.

6. In a stamp or label atfixing machine, a cutter and, plunger having a single operating knob or handle, a spring opposing downward movement of the cutter and a stronger spring opposing downward movement of the plunger, the weaker spring yielding first when pressure is applied to the knob or handle to permit movement of the cutter and plunger together, after which the stronger spring yields to permit independent movement of the plunger.

7. A stamp severing and aflixing device comprising a guide-casing adapted to be brought over the stamp which is to be aflixed on an envelop or other article, a plunger arranged to move vertically therein having an upstanding operating-rod, a spring normally opposing downward movement oi said plunger, a cutter adapted to sever the stamp in advance of the plunger, a weaker spring opposing downward movement of said cutter, the arrangement being such that when the rod is depressed the weaker spring yields first, causing the plunger and cutter to descend together, after which the stronger spring yields, causing the plunger to continue its descent independently.

8. A stamp severing and aflixing device comprising a guide-casing adapted to be brought over the stamp which is to be aifixed on an envelop or other article, a plunger arranged to work vertically therein having an upstanding operating-rod, a plate above said plunger having a blade or cutter and having a tube surrounding said rod and provided with a shoulder, a spring interposed between said shoulder and the top of the guide-casing and thus normally holding up the cutter, and a stronger spring engaging the upper end of said rod and acting between the same and said shoulder.

9. A stamp severing and afiixing device comprising a guide-casing adapted to be brought over the stamp which is to be affixed on an envelop or other article, a plunger arranged to work vertically therein having an upstanding operating-rod, aplate above said plunger having a blade or cutter and having a tube surrounding said rod, a spring interposedbetween an abutment or shoulder on said tube and the top of the guid e-casing and thus normally holding up the cutter, another tube inclosing the rod above the former, and a stronger spring interposed between an internal abutment or shoulder in said latter tube and a stop or abutment on the rod.

10. In combination with means for holding a row of stamps, and a stamp detaching and aflixing device, one of which parts is movable with relation to the other to bring the stamps successively within range of said device, of means for insuring stoppage of the parts in proper positions comprising a latch on one part, or member carried thereby, engaging a series of notches on the other part or member carried thereby.

11. In combination with a fixed member and means for holding a row of stamps, a slide carrying a stamp detaching and aflixing device adapted to be brought successively into posi tion to utilize one stamp after another, a series of notches in said fixed member at intervals corresponding to the Widths of the stamps, a latch adapted to engage the same, a lever lifting said latch carried by said slide, said slide and said lever having finger-pieces at the same end.

12. In a stamp or label affixing machine, an envelop-support and a stamp-applying device above the same, an opening in the front of said support, a moistening-wiper in said opening, a tank supplying water thereto, and a lever carrying said device or roller having a forward extension adapted to be raised by the envelop as the latter is pushed back on its support, thus lifting said wiper and causing it to pass over the surface of the envelop, said lever having a rear finger-piece for lifting said moistening device independently.

13. In a stamp or label affixing machine, an envelop support, a stamp applying device above the same, a stop limiting the position of the envelop so as to receive a stamp at its corner, and means for moving said stop back to permit correspondingmovement of the envelop to receive an additional stamp or stamps, said means comprising an operating bar or rod having notches at suitable intervals and a lug or projection adapted to be engaged by EDWVARD E. FLEMING.

Witnesses:

EDWARD OswALD, D. M. BRENNER. 

